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Home > About > History of GUC
A Brief History of Greenville Utilities
In 1903, Greenville was a town of just 2,565, governed by a Board of Alderman. Homes were dimly lit by kerosene lamps and the town's street lamp lighter, Henry Duff, had a secure job. The town's water supply consisted of cisterns, the town pump, and surface wells kept on back porches.
The "sewer system" was just a series of open pits in backyards--sometimes located within arm's reach of drinking wells, a perfect breeding ground for typhoid fever and malaria.
With an eye toward progress, on April 7, 1903, a $65,000 bond referendum for water, sewer, and electric system was passed by a vote of 187 to 11. Two years later, on March 20, Greenville's new generator was cranked up and lights illuminated the downtown for the first time. The curious crowd, which had gathered for the occasion, shouted its delight. All, we assume, except for Henry Duff, who surely sensed that his lamp lighting days were numbered.
And so, the Water & Light Commission was established in 1905 with about 72 electric and 30 water customers. The gas system came a few years later, in 1925.
Since 1905, Greenville Utilities has grown to become a vital part of the community. There have been many changes, but one thing has remained constant--our dedication to personal service at the lowest reasonable cost. We are and always have been a public power utility, owned by the people we serve.
Electric System
April 1884 First known, serious talk of electricity surfaced at a citizen meeting at the Pitt County Courthouse when the Houston Electric Light Company presented a proposition to furnish lights.
May 1884 Election and decision of a new Board of Aldermen (BOA) ended the prospect of electricity.
December 1895 S.C. Hamilton of Greenville Lumber Co. proposed that his plant furnish 20 electric lights to the town at $75 each or $1,500 per year. The BOA approved Hamilton's plan for a 30-year period. Unfortunately, Greenville Lumber Co. burned to the ground and was unable to rebuild.
March 1896 Continued requests for a water system prompted the BOA to call a town meeting.
April 1896 BOA learned that changes in the town charter prevented financing a water plant by selling bonds. Financing improvements by selling bonds could occur only after a citizen vote approved such a sale.
December 1900 Due to public demand, a citizen meeting was held at the courthouse to discuss "internal improvements" and to ask the N.C. General Assembly to pass a law enabling the town to call a bond election to finance improvements including electric lights, water works and street improvements.
April 1901 Greenville voters approved issuing bonds to finance construction of improvements but ruled invalid by the NC Supreme Court.
April 1903 Legislative approval came and a new election scheduled.
March 1904 Improvement bonds were sold to Rudolph Kleybolte and Company of Cincinnati.
August 1904 BOA levied taxes to pay interest on the bonds as well as for the bonds themselves. J.L. Ludlow hired as engineer to supervise construction of the Water and Light Plant.
February 1905 Electric plant and water works were almost complete. J.L. Livers hired as the town's first superintendent of water and lights. The NC General Assembly passed a law creating Greenville's first Water and Light Commission, which allowed them to conduct business, including setting rates.
April 1905 Greenville's first Water and Light Commission officially organized and elected R.J. Cobb as Chairman. Other members were J.L. Wooten and J.G. Moye. At the meeting, they adopted electric and water rates. March 20, 1905 Downtown electric lights were turned on for a one-hour trial run.
June 1906 BOA authorized the purchase of a generator capable of providing additional electricity.
August 1906 Generator was installed and running; Greenville now had "day current." The 24-hour-a-day service enabled people to use electric irons, electric motors and other modern innovations such as electric stoves.
Water Resources Department
May 1905 Most of the Water and Light Plant had been completed according to the engineer's specifications.
April 1905 The new water system had an unexpected trial run during a small house fire. The Daily Reflector described the difference: "As soon as the alarm sounded the firemen only had to take a hose reel to the nearest hydrant and there was water in abundance. There was no waiting to harness horses, fire up the engine and run out long lines of hose from the cistern. The fire department is now in shape to do good work when needed."
March 1906 Fifth Street residents asked the BOA to let them install a drain and sewer line with the understanding that at an appropriate time they would sell them to the town at a mutually agreed upon price and connect to the town's system. Aldermen granted their request.
June 1906 BOA approved creation of a Sewerage Fund and appropriated $5,000 for that purpose.
August 1906 BOA approved final plans to establish a sewer.
May 7, 1907 321 voters approved the bond issue for issuing for the town's share of East Carolina Teacher's Training School and the remaining for enlarging and maintaining a city sewer system and for street paving.
July 1907 Sewer plant completed and accepted by the BOA. J.L. Ludlow praised it as "an excellent system of modern sewage."
August 1907 BOA officially placed the sewer plant's operation under control of the Water and Light Commission (later renamed Greenville Utilities Commission).
Gas System
June 1916 Local voters approved the idea of a privately owned and operated gas plant.
July 1916 BOA decided to install gas mains under all improved streets in conjunction with the current street paving project.
1924 R.A. Blackwood signed a 30-year franchise agreement with the town to build and operate a gas plant. The BOA inserted a clause in the contract giving the town the first option to buy the plant if Blackwood decided to sell.
October 1924 Blackwood incorporated the Greenville Gas Company and designated it as the franchise agent.
Spring 1925 The exact date that operations began is unknown, partly because the plant was privately owned, and its history is not included in Greenville Utilities' records.
May 1927 Greenville Gas Company and six other eastern North Carolina gas companies merged with Carolina Gas and Electric Company Corporation.
December 1927 Gas plant inspected by engineers and contractors from New York more than two years after the gas plant probably began operating.
May 1931 Carolina Gas and Electric Company notified the town on of its intent to sell the gas plant to Tidewater Power Company unless the city exercised its option to buy.
July 1931 Citizens voted for municipal ownership and operation and approved the bond issue to finance city purchase of the plant. Official approval came from the Board of Aldermen
August 1931 Bonds financing the sale of the gas plant were sold.
October 1931 BOA put the gas plant operation under control of the Water and Light Department.
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